https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2019/04/lawmakers-want-fund-cyber-upgrades-state-and-local-governments/156196/
By Jack Corrigan
Staff Correspondent
Nextgov
April 9, 2019
A bipartisan bill introduced on Monday would require the Homeland Security
Department to fund efforts by state and local governments to boost their cyber
defenses.
The Cyber Resiliency Act would create a federal grant program to support
cybersecurity upgrades for governments that often lack the resources to fund
their own endeavors. It would also mandate states that participate in the
program work to improve recruitment and retention in their cyber workforce.
“As cyberattacks increase in frequency and gravity, we must ensure that our
nation—from our local governments on up—is adequately prepared to protect
public safety and combat cyber threats,” said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who
cosponsored the bill with Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo. “Nearly 70 percent of
states have reported that they lack adequate funding to develop sufficient
cybersecurity. This bill will aim to mitigate that need by providing grants to
state and local jurisdictions so that they are better prepared to take on these
emerging challenges.”
Reps. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., and Michael McCaul, R-Texas, introduced companion
legislation in the House. A similar bill was introduced during the last
Congress but never made it out of committee.
[...]
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